Live Stats
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University softball team was forced to push its senior day up one day to tomorrow, Thursday, Apr. 26. KU will recognize its four senior student-athletes before the two-game set with East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action. First pitch from North Campus field is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Seniors
Blayse Cholish (Peckville, Pa./Valley View),
Gabby Tareila (Limerick, Pa./Spring-Ford),
Bridget Newman (Ardmore, Pa./Haverford) and
Asja Saito (Pickering, Ontario/Pickering) all will put on the Kutztown uniform for the final time Thursday.
ESU Matchup Preview
Winners of three of their last four games, including a two-game sweep against Shippensburg in their last conference matchups, the Golden Bears (15-20 overall, 3-11 PSAC) will look to end the season on a high note, when it takes on the Warriors (11-25, 3-9) for two games.
These two teams split in their last meeting back on Friday, Apr. 13 at Zimbar Field. Kutztown won game one 8-6, with six of its 12 hits extra-base hits, including home runs from Newman and
Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)), and doubles by Jones,
Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent),
Alyssa Donato (Cedarville, N.J./Cumberland Regional) and
Jenna Lipowski (Nanticoke, Pa./Greater Nanticoke Area). In game two, KU was two outs away from a two-win day, but ESU had other ideas and walked off via a grand slam.
The Maroon and Gold most likely did not forget that feeling of walking off the field that day. They have been playing some of their best softball all season the last few games, and want to send off their seniors in style.
The bats have been alive, but it was the pitching that showcased itself these last four games.
Erin Fortney (Bedford, Nova Scotia/Bishop Macdonell (Rollins)) threw a two-hitter with no earned runs in a tough 3-0 loss in the opener last Tuesday at Wilmington University, and
Ava Bottiglia (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) followed with a complete-game, 4-2 victory in game two for a split on the day. Fortney (54 IP) and Bottiglia (62.1 IP) have been two of the more important arms on the staff for KU the last couple of weeks.
If KU's pitchers can continue their success, Kutztown could see two more wins in the fold. The Warriors lineup does not feature a hitter inside the top-10 of any of the major hitting statistical categories in the PSAC rankings.
East Stroudsburg (.297) and Kutztown (.292) are seventh and eighth in the PSAC in batting average respectively. Keeny is hitting a career-high .420 on the year, fifth in the PSAC. She is also fourth in hits (50), first in triples (five) and 10th in runs scored (28). Newman is sixth in on-base percentage (.487).
Tamara Jennings (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) is on a two-game hit streak, and
Isabel Hoch (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan (Penn State Abington)) and Lipowski have reached base successfully in three straight game.
Live stats for Thursday will be available via the link above, which can also be accessed on www.kubears.com.
Senior Day Preview
Kutztown's 2018 senior class will be honored pre-game on Thursday. Over the past four seasons, these four student-athletes have been a part of three 30-win seasons, and have won more than 100 games in their careers. Their teams have qualified for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament three times, and have played in the NCAA Tournament twice, winning at least one game each of the last two seasons, including playing in the Atlantic Regional semifinal in 2016.
Cholish is a four-year member of the Golden Bears. She has started in 157 of her 169 games played, primarily at shortstop and in the outfield. Cholish has a total of 118 hits, 78 runs scored, 52 RBI and 21 stolen bases in her career. She also has a .958 career fielding percentage. The Peckville native will graduate in May with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Forensics.
Tareila is a four-year member of KU and has played in 149 career games, making 109 starts, primarily as a catcher and designated player. She has a career .341 batting average with 120 hits, 53 runs, 24 doubles, 6 home runs and 55 RBI. She also has a .466 career slugging percentage and a .980 career fielding percentage. Last season, Tareila was named to the All-PSAC East First Team and the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team. She will graduate this May with a degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Public Relations.
Newman is a four-year member of Kutztown. She has started in 149 of 157 career games played, primarily as a pitcher and catcher. At the plate, Newman has 107 hits, 22 doubles, 9 home runs and 59 RBI in her career. In the circle, she is 12-7 with a career ERA of 2.66 in 137 innings, making 34 appearances. This season, Newman is hitting .322 and has 19 hits, including three home runs with 15 RBI. She is 6th in the PSAC with a .487 on-base percentage, and holds the Kutztown and PSAC career record for hit-by-a-pitch with 58. She is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection and was voted to the NFCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team in 2016. Newman will graduate in May with a degree in Communications Studies and a minor in Public Relations.
Saito is a four-year member of the Golden Bears. The infielder has started in 175 of her 176 career games played. She has 69 hits, 48 runs scored and 35 RBI in her career. She is fifth in program-history with 35 sacrifice hits. The Pickering, Ontario native will graduate in May with a degree in mathematics and a minor in actuarial science.
